Screening of Phenanthroquinolizidine Alkaloid Derivatives for Inducing Cell Death of L1210 Leukemia Cells with Negative and Positive P-glycoprotein Expression

Green synthesis of methadone in eutectic solvent

Eutectic solvents (DES), have attracted much attention in the last decade. With the advantages of nonflammability, thermal and chemical stability, high solubility and partial vapor pressure, non-toxicity and reasonable prices, these solvents are suggested as useful solvents. On the other hand, the eutectic solvents developed by Abbott are the new generation of ionic liquids. The mixture of eutectics is from an ammonium salt and a hydrogen bonding compound such as urea, acid, amine, and non-toxic amines. Choline chloride and urea, are quite environmentally friendly and are known practically as green solvents. The purpose of the present research is to present the synthesis of diphenyl acetonitrile with 1-dimethylamino-2-chloropropane by a eutectic’s solvent. In addition, methadone is synthesized from the reaction of 2,2-Diphenyl-4-dimethylaminovaleronitrile with ethyl magnesium bromide in the presence of solvent eutectic, which is in optimal and environmentally compatible conditions and by principles of green chemistry.

Development of Resistance to Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Inducing Agents in Mouse Leukemic L1210 Cells

Four new variants of L1210 cells resistant to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressors, tunicamycin (S_Tun), thapsigargin (S_Thap), bortezomib (S_Bor), and MG-132 (S_MG-132), were developed via an 18-month periodic cultivation in culture medium with a gradual increase in substance concentration. Multidrug resistance was generated for S_Tun (to tunicamycin, bortezomib and MG-132), S_Thap (to tunicamycin, thapsigargin and MG-132), S_Bor (to bortezomib and MG-132), and S_MG-132 (to bortezomib and MG-132). These cells were compared to the original L1210 cells and another two variants, which expressed P-gp due to induction with vincristine or transfection with the gene encoding P-gp, in terms of the following properties: sensitivity to either vincristine or the ER stressors listed above, proliferative activity, expression of resistance markers and proteins involved in the ER stress response, and proteasome activity. The resistance of the new cell variants to ER stressors was accompanied by a decreased proliferation rate and increased proteasome activity. The most consistent change in protein expression was the elevation of GRP78/BiP at the mRNA and protein levels in all resistant variants of L1210 cells. In conclusion, the mechanisms of resistance to these stressors have certain common features, but there are also specific differences.

Cell Death Effects Induced by Sulforaphane and Allyl Isothiocyanate on P-Glycoprotein Positive and Negative Variants in L1210 Cells

Variants of L1210 leukemia cells-namely, parental P-glycoprotein-negative S cells and R and T cells expressing P-glycoprotein, due to selection with vincristine and transfection with the human p-glycoprotein gene, respectively-were used. The responses of these cell variants to two naturally occurring isothiocyanates-sulforaphane (SFN, from cruciferous vegetables) and allyl isothiocyanate (AITC, from mustard, radish, horseradish and wasabi)-were studied. We obtained conflicting results for the cell death effects induced by isothiocyanates, as measured by i. cell counting, which showed inhibited proliferation, and ii. cell metabolic activity via an MTS assay, which showed an increased MTS signal. These results indicated the hyperactivation of cell metabolism induced by treatment with isothiocyanates. In more detailed study, we found that, depending on the cell variants and the isothiocyanate used in treatment, apoptosis and necrosis (detected by annexin-V cells and propidium iodide staining), as well as autophagy (detected with monodansylcadaverine), were involved in cell death. We also determined the cell levels/expression of Bcl-2 and Bax as representative anti- and pro-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, the cell levels/expression of members of the canonical and noncanonical NF-κB pathways, and the cell levels of 16 and 18 kDa fragments of LC3B protein as markers of autophagy.